"We clashed with Maaliya... and we destroyed a compound of theirs and killed 70 of them," another Rezeigat source said, declining to be named.

They were not able to give casualty figures for Sunday's fighting but tribal sources said dozens had died on Saturday.Inter-ethnic fighting has been the major source of violence in Darfur this year, where an estimated 300,000 people were displaced in the first five months alone, according to African Union-UN peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID).Prior to this year's surge of violence, there were already 1.4 million people in camps for those uprooted by the conflict in Darfur.

I don't get the estimate thing--in previous reports, the UN had stopped gathering that information, so how can this be accurate? And if it is accurate, the 300,000 added to the 1.4 million makes it nearly 2 million in camps...a small nation in itself.

Ed Daein — Violent clashes that erupted between the Riezegat and Ma'alia tribes in East Darfur on Saturday and Sunday have reportedly left "hundreds dead and many wounded" on both sides.Tensions between the tribes began to rise when Ma'alia members allegedly stole several cattle belonging to the Riezegat, and when a Ma'alia merchant, Hashin Houmeida, nicknamed Al Libi, was allegedly killed by Riezegat tribesmen.These events prompted a high-level security delegation, as well as Sudanese army troops, to be dispatched to state capital Ed Daein on Thursday.

Witnesses have been reporting to Radio Dabanga that "loud explosions and small arms fire could be heard from Saturday afternoon until Sunday evening, with columns of smoke rising from the combat zones.

Speaking to Radio Dabanga, the field commander of the Ma'alia tribe, Mohamed Ibrahim Adam confirmed that clashes broke out between the tribes on Saturday afternoon, and continued on Sunday morning in Al Muhalgarat and Dar Es Salaam.

Adam said that his tribe has suffered 11 dead and 15 wounded, with the proviso that "the battles are ongoing and so is the inventory of the dead and wounded".

Governor:East Darfur Governor Abdul Hamid Musa Kasha told Radio Dabanga that 50 Riezegat tribesmen have been killed and 82 wounded, but also underscored that these are "provisional casualty figures as the battles are ongoing".

Governor Kasha laid the blame for the clashes with "rebels" who, according to the governor, "have assisted Riezegat tribesmen against the Agarba branch of the Ma'alia tribe".

The governor confirmed the arrival in Ed Daein of a high-level security delegation. He also said that "a substantial military force with equipment has been dispatched to the state on Sunday. Significant components of this force will be deployed to the combat zones to separate the warring tribes," he said.

JEM:The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) strongly refuted the governor's claims of rebel involvement, saying that the movement "has no troops in the area".

Speaking to Radio Dabanga, JEM spokesman Jibril Adam Bilal insisted that "the JEM is not a party to the fighting in the area," placing responsibility on the governor of East Darfur.

"The clashes were initiated by Riezegat members of the border guards," Bilal asserted.Injured:

Medical sources have reported to Radio Dabanga that the hospitals of Ed Daein and Adilla have received more than 100 wounded by Sunday - 30 of them are reportedly in serious condition.

The sources say the most serious cases have been transferred to hospitals in El Fasher and Nyala, capitals of North and South Darfur because the Ed Daein and Adilla hospitals lack the capacity.

Witnesses on the ground say that the situation in all the cities and rural villages of East Darfur is tense. The population are reportedly living in a state of intense fear. Shops and government offices are closed and streets are empty, and vehicle traffic between East Darfur and its neighbor states has ground to a halt.

A fierce fight between the Rezeigat and Maaliya tribes in Darfur, Sudan has escalated. After two days of fighting, the death toll in Darfur is climbing to the hundreds. The main battle is taking place in the southeast region of Darfur, and is spreading to other regions rapidly. UK News reports that both tribes are using heavy weapons and riding on Land Cruisers to attack and terrorize. The tribal fighters are raiding local villages and burning them to the ground.

We clashed with Maaliya... and we destroyed a compound of theirs and killed 70 of them, UK reports a Rezeigat tribal member as saying.

Fighting between rival tribes has plagued Sudan for 10 years. The newest disputes are primarily over land and resource rights. The region holds 1.4 million people living in displacement camps, due to the violence in the country, and the amount of displaced families, women and children is growing.

According to the United Nation's African peacekeepers; in the past 6 months, the region has added more than 300,000 people to the number of victims displaced.

Non-Arabs in Darfur began a rebellion in 2003, when the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) united to overthrow the government. Sudan was ruled by Omar Al-Bashir at the time, and rebellion erupted against what these fighters believed was a dominating group of rich elite Arabs ruling in Sudan. Al-Bashir responded to the rebellion with a hard line against his enemies, and he was later indicted for "genocide" and "crimes against humanity" by the International Criminal Court. The Sudanese government and the rebels signed an end to the conflict and a ceasefire in February 2010, but United Nations peacekeepers have stayed in the region in an ongoing effort to stop further violence.

East Jebel Marra — The death toll of air strikes allegedly carried out by the Sudanese Air Force in North Darfur's East Jebel Marra rose from seven to nine, sources affirmed. On the occasion of the bombings on Dubbo al Omda, witnesses said the bombardment was so intense that people were simply not able to escape.

Sources informed Radio Dabanga that two more bodies, belonging to the twin brothers Hassan Yahiya Mohamed and Hussein Yahiya Mohamed, 7, were found on Monday in the zone of Keyra, which belongs to the Dubbo al Omda administrative unit.

"The shattered bodies were found among animal carcasses. The Sudanese Air Force continues bombing the area for a second day in a row," a witness stated.

He said that MiGs dropped four bombs on the village of Suri of Dubbo al Omda administrative unit, "inciting terror and fear in the hearts of citizens" who sought refuge in the wadis and mountains nearby. A large number of livestock is also reported to have been killed.

Local residents repeated their demands for the international community to "ban the Sudanese Air Force from flying over Darfur and send teams to investigate the crimes carried out by the Khartoum regime."

After hours of relative calm, clashes between the Rizeigat and Ma'alia tribes in East Darfur resumed on Monday afternoon, leaving an unconfirmed amount of dead and injured from both sides.

Sources say the latest confrontation occurred in the administrative unit of Keleikel Abu Salama and that “many were killed and wounded. On Tuesday we saw large crowds from the Rizeigat and Ma'alia, on vehicles, horses, and camels, heading to the battlefield.”

The Omda of Keleikel Abu Salama, Mohamed Ahmed Ali Ajalballah, said fighting began on Monday afternoon in the Migellit area, north of the administrative unit. He claimed that the Ma'alia counted eight dead and 17 wounded, “although inventory is still in progress.”

Omda Ajalballah said that on Tuesday crowds of fighters gathered again in Migellit but also in Abu Jaar. He believes that clashes “may resume at any time.”

Ahmed Mohamed Adud, the East Darfur secretary-general, told Radio Dabanga that fighting in Migellit led to the death and injury of many people from both sides on Monday, echoing the omda's statement that “some victims have not yet been accounted for.” Adud noted the Ed Daein market has been partially reopened on Tuesday.

GovernorDuring his visit to Adila locality on Monday, East Darfur Governor Abdul Hamid Musa Kasha and his delegation were surrounded by a hostile group armed with sticks, stones, and batons who also fired gunshots in the air.

Sources say the incident was a reaction to Kasha's remarks that the on-going tribal clashes in the state are not between the Rizeigat and the Ma'alia, but between the Rizeigat and “armed movements from Darfur.” The Ma'alia, they explained, consider this means the governor is accusing them of belonging to rebel groups themselves.

Kasha was accompanied by the Sudanese army chief-of-staff, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Ali, and the commander of East Darfur’s army division, Maj. Gen. Isam Sheriff. The unrest caused them to be stranded at the locality's headquarters for three hours, witnesses claimed.

Nevertheless, East Darfur Secretary-General Adud, affirmed the governor and his entourage were at the building waiting for an airplane that was coming from Belila in West Kordofan to transfer 12 wounded members of the Ma'alia tribe to Khartoum.The commissioner of the Adila locality, Brigadier General Ahmed Ali Rizk, confirmed the Governor and his delegation were “surrounded by a crowd of local angry people” as they were going to meet with the local security committee.

"Bullets were fired on the premises of locality and people threw stones and sticks putting them in an uncomfortable situation," said the commissioner to Radio Dabanga. Ed Daein is generally accepted as the stronghold of the Rizeigat tribe, and Adila and Abu Karinka are known to be the stronghold of the Ma'alia.

Clashes between the Rizeigat and Ma'alia tribes in East Darfur have left hundreds dead and injured since tensions began to rise about one week ago. While the Ma'alia accuse border guards affiliated to the Rizegat of joining the fighting, the governor of East Darfur claims that “rebels have assisted the … Ma’alia tribe against Riezegat.”

On Monday afternoon, a Unamid peacekeeper convoy was attacked by “a mob” in Ed Daein. Unamid claims none of their peacekeepers were injured. However, witnesses affirmed to Radio Dabanga that one peacekeeper was critically wounded and is currently being treated in a hospital.

A total of 209 people were killed and 305 were wounded in clashes between the Rizeigat and Ma'alia tribes in East Darfur, according to the latest estimates on Wednesday. Meanwhile, East Darfur Governor Abdul Hamid Musa Kasha, announced the “state is not in control of the situation nor is it able to disperse the fighting.”

Ahmed Mohamed Adud, the East Darfur secretary-general, told Radio Dabanga on Wednesday that that only on Monday, 35 Rizeigat were killed and another 82 were wounded, bringing the total casualty toll to 149 deaths and 185 injuries.

Sheikh Murdis Juma, Chairman of the Shura (heads of communities) Council of the Ma'alia, said that 60 Ma'alia tribesmen were killed so far and 120 were wounded.

Reconciliation conference The state secretary-general disclosed that delegations from Khartoum and the five states of Darfur are holding “extensive consultations” with leaders of the Ma'alia and Rizeigat with the intent that they reach a cessation of fire and hostilities.

They also suggest that a reconciliation conference be held between the two tribes in the West Kordofan capital of Al Fula. The delegations are composed of ministers, security services, governors, and native administrators.

Adud affirmed to Radio Dabanga that the market in the state capital Ed Daein reopened its doors on Tuesday and that gunmen have disappeared after authorities deployed large numbers of soldiers from the military in the area.

'Spread of militias'However, civilians who fled their homes as a result of the Rizeigat-Ma'alia clashes said “militias” are spread around Ed Daein and surrounding villages “threatening people.”

“Until now Rizeigat fighters are moving around the Ed Daein market, which has not been reopened. When we fled, we left behind all of our money and cattle. We don't have money to buy basic goods or to return to our villages and homes. We also can't go shopping because of the militias and insecurity,” a source told Radio Dabanga.

Civilians are said to have fled their homes in areas affected by the fighting and are now living in Ed Daein, surrounding villages, or at the nearby El Neem camp for displaced. They claim to be living in “inhumane situations, sleeping on the ground, without cover or medicine, and to be facing extremely difficult health conditions.”

Ajalballah also said that two Ma'alia tribesmen, who were wounded in battles, died on Tuesday on their way to Khartoum where they would be treated. They were being transferred with another five wounded victims via North Kordofan's capital of El Obeid, where they passed away.

'State not in control'Governor Kasha announced in a press statement on Wednesday that he expects "the situation in East Darfur to explode at any moment due to the presence of crowds of fighters” in the Migellit area, north of the Kaleikel Abu Salama administrative unit.

He declared the state is not able to control the situation or disperse the fighting and demanded that the military intervenes and puts an end the poor security situation caused by the tribes.

“Primary and secondary schools are closed and all employees of the Ma'alia tribe were evacuated from Ed Daein to preserve their lives,” Kasha said.

Unamid 'concerned'The Joint Special Representative and head of the African Union - United Nations Mission in Darfur (Unamid), Mohamed Ibn Chambas, expressed his deep concern over the high number of casualties as a result of clashes between the Rezeigat and Ma’alia in and around Ed Daein and Adila, a statement from 14 August read.

"The violence must stop for the sake of everyone caught in this terrible ordeal. Fighting is not the answer and I urge all parties to resolve their differences through dialogue,” said Chambas, who on Wednesday would hold a meeting over the situation with the Chairperson of the Darfur Regional Authority (DRA), Tijani Sese.

Unamid says that “tensions between the Rezeigat and Ma’alia were reportedly triggered earlier this month by unresolved disputes concerning access to land resources. Over the past week, the security situation deteriorated in the area as clashes broke out leading to an increase in criminality which has adversely affected the civilian population.”

“In response, Unamid increased its presence and patrolling in the area and transported officials from the DRA to the locality to support cessation of hostilities. The Mission also sent senior personnel to the field to provide technical advice in the mediation.

“In connection with the unrest, on 12 August, a Unamid patrol was attacked by a mob in Ed Daein town. The patrol was able to extract itself and return safely to the Mission’s base. Government-led mediation efforts, supported by the Mission, to defuse tensions and restore stability are ongoing.”

Speaking to Radio Dabanga on Tuesday, Unamid confirmed the attack and affirmed that none of their peacekeepers were injured. However, witnesses stated that one peacekeeper was critically wounded as a result of the attack and is currently being treated in a hospital.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]Sudanese men sit on camels in the Shangil Tobaya area for displaced people in North Darfur state on June 18, 2013. Janjaweed militia in Sudan's Darfur region kidnapped more than 20 members of a tribe fleeing deadly inter-ethnic violence, prompting their group to boycott a ceasefire process, a local leader said Sunday. (AFP/File)

KHARTOUM (AFP) – Janjaweed militia in Sudan's Darfur region kidnapped more than 20 members of a tribe fleeing deadly inter-ethnic violence, prompting their group to boycott a ceasefire process, a local leader said Sunday.

Five families, a total of 24 people from the Maaliya tribe, were abducted on Saturday night just outside the East Darfur state capital Ed Daein, said Zekria Suliman, a local Maaliya leader.

The families were trying to leave the Ed Daein area, where local sources say the rival Rezeigat tribe predominates.

Dozens died in fighting between the Maaliya and Rezeigat Arab tribes on August 10 and 11, 2013.

Suliman accused police, who were escorting the Maaliya convoy, of failing to intervene during the abduction and then trying to cover up the incident.

"For that reason, we decided to suspend negotiations with the Rezeigat and the signing of a ceasefire agreement," Suliman said.

"They were kidnapped by Janjaweed," he said, referring to Arab tribal militias active in the region, without accusing the Rezeigat.

Non-Arabs in Darfur rose up 10 years ago against what they saw as the domination of Sudan's power and wealth by Arab elites. In response, the government-backed Janjaweed shocked the world with atrocities against them.

Although the rebellion continues, analysts have warned since at least 2010 that relations were souring between the government and the Arab tribes it armed to fight the insurgency.

Observers say Sudan's crisis-hit government generally has less money for the militias."Now they have taken things into their own hands," one Sudan analyst said.

Tribal disputes have been driven by conflict over resources including land, water and mineral rights, observers say.

Suliman accused police, who were escorting the Maaliya convoy, of failing to intervene during the abduction and then trying to cover up the incident.

Holy crap, the police were escorting them...and allowed it to happen...?!

Things are not what we normally would expect; the police most likely word for Omar alBashir. So they are going to help get rid of as many of his cleansing agenda dictates. This is mostly about Genocide and then confiscating their lands; even if he instigates the rebels into fighting. He cannot just go out and line (mostly black) them all up and shot them down, he tries to make himself look innocent. Which is a farce.

Tribal fighting this month between rival Arab groups in Sudan's East Darfur killed 190 people, the United Nations said on Friday.

According to reports received by the UN, "100 Reizegat tribesmen were killed and another 140 were injured, while on the Maaliya side 70 were reportedly killed and 113 were injured" at one location, the UN's weekly Humanitarian Bulletin said.

During the fighting a Rezeigat source had told AFP that his side killed 70 Maaliya while 30 of his own men were killed.

In its bulletin, the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said another 20 Rezeigat were reportedly killed and 45 injured in clashes at a separate location, where an unidentified number of Maaliya were killed.

On Thursday night the Rezeigat and Maaliya signed a document for "peace, co-existence and cessation of hostilities," the official SUNA news agency reported.

"Aid operations in East Darfur have been severely curtailed as a result of the fighting and general insecurity," OCHA said in its bulletin covering the period to August 18.Non-Arabs in Darfur rose up 10 years ago against what they saw as the domination of Sudan's power and wealth by Arab elites.

In response, government-backed Janjaweed militias shocked the world with atrocities against them.

Although the rebellion continues, analysts say Sudan's crisis-hit regime now has less money for its militias, who are acting outside government control and have been a major contributor to violence in the region this year.

Tribal disputes have been driven by conflicts over resources, including land, water and mineral rights.Voice of Russia, AFP